Kabul, March 25 (IANS): Human Rights Watch Tuesday denounced the Taliban for attacking a hotel here that killed an AFP correspondent, his wife and two of their children.

The US group said in a statement that it extended its "deepest sympathies to the Afghan journalist community for the horrific killing last week of Sardar Ahmad".

Ahmad and his family were dining at Kabul's Serena Hotel March 21 to celebrate the Afghan New Year when the hotel was attacked by four gunmen who shot dead nine guests.

The victims included Ahmad, his wife Humaira and two of their children, Nilofar, 6, and Omar, 5. Their third child, Abuzar, 2, was also shot and remains in critical condition.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

"The attack on the Serena Hotel that killed Ahmad, his family members, and other guests was savage and unlawful," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"The Taliban and other insurgent groups need to end all attacks targeting civilians."